Wow a week till launch. What a crazy time it has been. I have waited for this time to come for over a whole year now! I never thought up or dreamed the stuff that would happen in the waiting season of the race. A global pandemic, virtual classes, cancellation after cancellation, dealing with disappointment, and most importantly growth. I have grown in patience, perseverance, and finding joy in any situation. At the begin of praying and applying to the race I had it all planned out I would be fully funded by the time of the race. I would have training camp in the summer and launch overseas in September. I would get to have all the special moments of senior year and finish out strong, ready for the the adventure of the race. Never would I have thought at the beginning of the year that I would not be able to graduate normally or have to wait till January to go overseas. If life followed my plan I would be perfect by now. Not afraid at all to go, memorized a bunch of scripture in preparation of the race, have almost a perfect relationship with God, would be fully funded and be ready to go. Instead I am scared of what comes nexts, I haven’t memorized any scripture, my relationship with God is far from perfect, I’m not fully funded (but I am close!) and I feel unprepared for the race. But God knew what he was doing. He knew that I would go through all of theses things and still come out strong then ever. A lesson that keeps popping up in my mind is God doesn’t give you anything that you can’t handle and that he has it in his hands. If I was still going overseas in a week then I would never have the opportunity to learn and go deeper in my understand of him. I would never get training in how to disciple to others as well as grow deeper bonds with my squad mates. Most importantly though I would not trust God as much as I do now. So, with all that I’m so excited to take this next step with God and go where I can not see trusting him fully. He does not call the perfect he uses the imperfect to do his perfect work. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” This is the verse that God has called on my heart. He wants me to share that I am far from perfect that I do make a lot of mistakes, but He can use me to do His great deeds. As I step into this crazy adventure I just ask that people pray for safety, health, perseverance, my squad and everyone involved, and most important change. I love you all and I hope to keep you all updated on the insane stories ahead. Here is to making the unknown, discomfort, and God my home for the next 9 months.